Jim Rogers is the author of best sellers, Investment Biker, Hot Commodities, Adventure Capitalist and A Bull In China. Jim Rogers was named by John Train as one of the most successful money managers of all time. In 1999 and 2000 Jim and his wife Paige traveled around the world. Their adventure is documented here in The Millennium Adventure.

La Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Antigua Guatemala serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. It also serves as the departmental capital of Sacatepéquez Department.

The city had a peak population of some 60,000 in the 1770s; the bulk of the population moved away in the late 18th century. Despite significant population growth in the late 20th century, the city had only reached half that number by the 1990s. According to the 2007 census, the city has some 34,685 inhabitants.
Homestead in ruins of a colonial Spanish building; Volcánes de Fuego and Acatenango visible in distance
A colonial church façade

La Antigua Guatemala means the “Old Guatemala” and was the third capital of Guatemala. The first capital of Guatemala was founded on the site of a Kakchikel-Maya city, now called Iximche, on July 25, 1524 -the day of Saint James- and therefore named Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Goathemalan (City of Saint James of the Knights of Guatemala). Naturally, St. James became the patron saint of the city. After several Cakchiquel uprisings, the capital was moved to a more suitable site in the Valley of Almolonga on November 22, 1527, and kept its original name. When this city, now named Ciudad Vieja, was destroyed on September 11, 1541 by a devastating mudflow emanating from the Volcán de Agua,[2] the colonial authorities decided to move once more, this time to the Valley of Panchoy. So, on March 10, 1543 the Spanish conquistadors founded present-day Antigua, and again, it was named Santiago de los Caballeros. For more than 200 years it served as the seat of the military governor of the Spanish colony of Guatemala, a large region that included almost all of present-day Central America and the southernmost State of Mexico: Chiapas. In 1566 King Felipe II of Spain gave it the title of”Muy Noble y Muy Leal” (“Very Noble and Very Loyal”).

On September 29, 1717, an estimated 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Antigua Guatemala, and destroyed over 3,000 buildings. Much of the city’s architecture was ruined. The damage the earthquake did to the city made authorities consider moving the capital to another city.

In 1773, a series of earthquakes destroyed much of the town, which led to the third change in location for the city. The Spanish Crown ordered (1776) the removal of the capital to a safer location, the Valley of the Shrine, where Guatemala City, the modern capital of Guatemala, now stands. This new city did not retain its old name and was christened Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción (New Guatemala of the Ascension) and its patron saint is Our Lady of Ascension. The badly damaged city of Santiago de los Caballeros was ordered abandoned, although not everyone left, and was referred to as la Antigua Guatemala, or Old Guatemala.

Central Park (Parque Central) is the heart of the city. The reconstructed fountain there is a popular gathering spot. Off to the side of the Central Park, the Arco de Santa Catalina is among the many notable architectural landmarks of La Antigua.
The re-constructed Central Park fountain

La Antigua is noted for its very elaborate religious celebrations during Lent (Cuaresma), leading up to Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Easter(Pascua). Each Sunday in Lent, one on the local parishes sponsor a Procession through the streets of Antigua.

There are many Spanish language schools located in Antigua.

Tourism is a major part of the local economy. This tourism economy is centered around restaurants, bars, hotels and tour operators.

Important Ruins and other tourist attractions
La Merced Church * Church and Convent of Capuchins * Cathedral of San José * Ruins of old San José * Old weapons Museum * Church School of Christ * Church of San Francisco * Museum of Santo Domingo * Museum of the Old Book (El Libro Antiguo) * Museum of Colonial Art, in the former San Carlos University Building * The Jade museum * Maria Eskenasy Fine Art, The Artist’s Studio and Gallery

Copyright Jim Rogers – provided as a special contribution to The Fenton Report